changed, I admit ; but you must recollect that
vrhen you knew him he was just seventeen, a
mere boy, whose whole life had been spent in the
retirement of an invalid mother s 100 m. He was
her only child, and devotedly attached to her,
and unwilling to pain her fond heart even by a
very short absence. Before he was eighteen his
mother died. He then went to college, and after
graduating with high honors, studied law with his
uncle, Judge Benton. I can tell you, Blanche,
that the young man has not his equal in the Union,
nor ever had, even at the time when you, a foolish
girl of sixteen, made sport of his awkward shy
ness. Then he was acting the part of an affec
tionate son, in devoting himself to cheer the few
remaining years of a widowed mother’s life. —
He is now finishing the measure of usefulness
in devoting a naturally well endowed and richly
cultivated intellect to his country and to his God.’
“ I felt too confused to answer, and uncle con
tinued—
“ ‘Judge Benton and his nephew return to Al
bany in the same conveyance with us. \ou have
no objection to this arrangement I hope ? ’
“ A summons to breakfast relieved me from the
necessity of giving anything further than a hasty
assent to the plan ; I was glad of it, for a mixture
of surprise and confusion nearly overpowered me.
“ You will not ask me, I know dear Mary, to
detail the whole story minutely to its end ; and to
tell how, after the charming of my fancy, my
heart was won. Suffice it to say, that very soon
I came to urrcle’s conclusion, that eight years be
fore I was a foolish girl not fitted to appreciate
true worth, unless under a gilded exterior, and
quite unable to judge of the best qualifications
for a companion through life. Was l wrong in
thus concluding ? ”
HIS <@lll AIIIO® B .
PRESENCE OF MIND IN A LADY.
The following romantic story of real life, we
find in the last Bombay Telegraph and Courier.
The heroine of the affair truly exhibited unusual
qualities of mind. The Telegraph says :
“ The Rainbow, from Southampton to Aden,
arrived here a few days since. Capt. Arnold,
her late commander, died ten days before the
ship reached that port, and the chief mate was
so habituated to drunkenness, that he had been
confined to his cabin several times during the
passage. The captain's daughter, about sixteen
years of age, was on board, and after her father’s
death the second mate, who had assumed the
command, made a daring and insidious attempt
to entice the young lady and run away with the
ship. She indignantly and successfully repelled
all his base and dastardly attempts, and although
suffering under a painful bereavement, at once
rushed on the quarter-deck and made a public
appeal to the ship’s crew, as British seamen, and
threw herself on their protection. This well
judged resolution, had the desired effect; the sea
men (except two of them who were led away by
the second mate) declared, with that manly feeling
which sailors so often display, that they would to
a man, protect her from all harm, and told the
second mate and their misguided shipmates in
very plain terms, that if he, the second mate,
gave the slightest molestation to their late cap
tain’s daughter, they would pitch him overboard,
and any one else who dared to follow his exam
ple should share the same fate. Miss Arnold
then, with great presence of mind, begged the
ship’s company would grant her one special fa
vor. Her character, her manners, and the well
timed appeal which she had already made, in
duced the crew to declare their assent to anvthin£
she might ask. Miss Arnold then said that the
safety of the ship and her own security from in
sult could only be secured by throwing overboard
that instant every drop of spirits in the ship.—
From that time Miss Arnold had her screened cot
secured near the wheel, and slept alongside the
binnacle, and three of the crew kept a faithful
watch around her during the remainder of the
voyage ; and these faithful guardians of one of
our beloved countrywomen never failed to evince
the utmost respect, and preserved the most rigid
decorum, honorable in every point of view to
themselves and to that charge which they had
pledged themselves to undertake. Miss Arnold
wrote a statement of all these occurrences, and
forwarded them to Capt. Haines, on the ship’s ar
rival, when the second mate and disaffected men
were immediately arrested and sent to prison.—
The chief officer had indulged himself to such
an excess, that after the captain’s death, and in
the absence of all means of resort to his favorite
stimulants, he was perfectly useless. Miss Ar
nold became the welcome guest of Captain Thom
as, at Aden, and every possible attention was
shown to this noble-minded lady by the w r hole
society there. Subsequent to Miss Arnold’s charge
against the second mate, Capt. Haines applied to
her for a circumstantial statement of what oc
curred on board the Rainbow after her father’s
death. The lady complied with his request im
mediately, and her narrative was so well and
ably written, that it elicited admiration on all
sides. At her solicitation her father’s remains
were preserved m a cask of spirits, and were
buried at Aden the day after the ship’s arrival.
She had always kept his accounts. The second
mate navigated the ship, but several of the crew
knew the proper course to Aden, and all his pro
ceedings wre narrowly watched.”
How the World Wags . —Last Sunday, a typo of
the Reveille establishment was passing a house ot
spiritual worship,* he encountered an old blind
man, whose wretched appearance, as slowly and
cautiously he felt his way with his stick, might
have drawn a sigh for poor human suffering from
the hardest heart. Drawing out his purse, the
compositor called to him, and, quietly and with
characteristic providence slipt the last dollar in
his hand, He thrust the empty purse back into
his pocket, and was about to walk away, when he
heard a laugh behind him. The next instant he
felt a hand laid upon his shoulder, and turning,
found himself face to face with a large ill-dressed
individual, w ho grinned with disgusting familiari
ty.
“You don’t mean to say,” commenced the
stranger, “that you gave that sneaking old scoun
drel a dollar?”
“ Yes I do,” answered the compositor, a faint
blush spreading over his cheek, as il the action
he had been detected in had been a bad one;
“yes I do, what then?”
“ Why,” continued the fellow, leering more
horribly than before, “ you’ve been roped in,
that’s all. He is no more blind than lam ; d—n
it, man, hold on, and I’ll prove it to your satis
faction. Here, you fellow, you without eyes,
there, I’m going to strike you —now r open your
eyes and dodge, or you’ll rue it.”
His arm, a large and powerful one, was uplif
ted ; the old man, pale, and trembling in every
limb, had dropped his stick, and with hands clasp
ed together in a supplicating attitude, stood ready
to receive the blow r , when the compositor, whose
anger was thoroughly roused, sprang between
them.
“ What do you mean to do?” said he, laying his
hand upon the bully’s breast. “ Wh} r do you
interfere with this old man? He has done you
nothing. Stand back, stand back, I say, and let
him pass.”
“ But he’s an impostor—l want to unmask
him.” He raised his clenched hand again. I
want to —”
A powerful and well directed blow interrupted,
and sent the bully sprawling upon the ground.
“Get up again, get up,” cried the compositor;
“ if yarn want satisfaction I’ll give it to you.”
The fellow arose as he was desired, but re
fused to test the activity of his adversary a sec
ond time. Casting a side look upon the old man,
who stood with his hands still crossed, and listen
ning as if in painful suspense, he sluuk away,
and was soon out of sight. The compositor took
up the old man’s stick and handed it back to
him.
“Come, my poor old fellow, you must have
been terribly frightened; here, take your stick ;
you may go without fear now; that scoundrel
won’t stop you again.”
The old man did not move however. Thrus
ting his hand into his pocket, he drew out a bag
which contained his little all.
“ You’ve served me one good turn,” he said,
“I will repay it.”
As he said this, he opened his eyes; a pair of
quick, shining, gray eyes, counted out one dollar
in dimes, and tendered them to his protector.
Had Bartling’s saloon and the Theatre suddenly,
and without previous warning, commenced an
animated performance of the Mazurka, our com
positor could not have been more astonished.
Putting his hands into his pocket, he uttered a
long, low whistle, “ came away,” and thongh
several days have elapsed, his lips still retain
an inveterate pucker.— St. Louis Reveille .
Not time to Woo. —The great surgeon, John
Abernethy, *is stated thus business-like to have
wooed and won his wife. It is certainly a sensi
ble way, though no doubt it appears very odd to
idlers, or persons of sentimental minds :
“The reported fashion of his courtship and
marriage is extremely characteristic. It is said
that while attending a lady for several weeks, he
observed those admirable qualifications in her
daughter which he truly esteemed to be calculated
greatly to make a marriage state happy. Accor
dingly, on Saturday,when taking leave of his pa
tient, he addressed her to the following purport:
‘ You are now so well, that I need not see you af
ter Monday next, when I shall come and pay my
farewell visit. But in the meantime, I wish you
and your daughter seriously to consider the pro
posal lam about to make. It is abrupt and un
ceremonious lam aware; but the excessive oc
cupation of my time, by my professional duties,
afford me no leisure to accomplish what I desire
by the more ordinary course of attention and so
licitation. My annual receipts amount to .£IO,OOO
and lean settle £5,000 on my wife; my charac
ter is generally known to the public, so you may
readily ascertain what it is. 1 have seen in your
daughter a tender and affectionate.cbild, an assid
uous and careful nurse, a gentle and lady-like
member of your family; such a person must be
all that a good husband could covet, and I offer
my hand and fortune to her acceptance. On
Monday when I call 1 shall expect your determi
nation, fori really have not time for the routine
of courtship. In this way, however, the lady
was wooed and won, and the union proved a hap
py one in every respect.”
The steamer Governor Bent burst her boiler,
on the Mississippi river, above Island 75. Only
one hand happened to be near it at the moment,
who was instantly killed*
A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY.
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY MAY 24, 1849.
AGENTS.
Mr. J. M. Boardman is our Agent for Macon.
Mr. S. S. Box for Rome.
Mr. Robt. E. Seyle for the State of South Carolina.
James O’Conner, Travelling Agent.
The editor of the “ Providence Daily Star ” says, we have
published the Star but one little month, and already there is a
libel suit in prospective, a cow-hiding or two in the immediate
neighborhood, which will come off when the parties muster
courage for the operation, a dozen persons, at least, had rathei
tweak us by the nose than shake us by the hand, and one
individual would like to knock us “ into the middle of next
week,” if he could and dared to. Notwithstanding these
trifling obstacles, the spirit of the little Star does not flag.
In the discharge of his duty an editor may at times occasion
unpleasant emotions to some, but we envy not the editor of the
Star, the feelings which prompted his paragraph. How much
more noble would have been.his declaration that he had been
the medium of diffusing knowledge and truth, of peace and
brotherly love, among the citizens of Providence, than of sow
ing the seeds of discord.
The sole aim of some editors seems to bo to stir up quar
rels, to find fault with every thing and every body, to keep the
minds of their readers in a ferment—the object of which, we
presume, is to get the reputation of being spunky and the con
ductors of spicy Journals, and by these means extending the
circulation of their papers.
Mark the effect of such a course upon the morals of the
community. The venom circulated through the medium of
a woekly or daily paper, as the case may be, arouses all the
baser passions of man, and in a great degree is the cause of
those outbreaks which occasionaly take place, causing the
destruction of life and property. If then a brawling and con
tentious man should be contemned, in what estimation
should an editor boasting these qualifications, be held? We
leave the answer and the remedy with those to whom it
rightfully belongs the People.
FEMALE SCHOOL AT ATHENS.
In Richard’s Weekly Gazette we observe that Mrs.- Coley
has taken charge of this boarding and day school. Should
any of our readers desire to place their daughters at an in
stitution in that vicinity, we assure them that this lady is
peculiarly qualified for their instruction. Her varied ac
quirements we know to be of the highest ordef. The French
language will be employed as the usual medium of communi
cation—her drawings in water colors are really exquisite and
her skill in every department of instruction only equalled
by her moral worth, high-toned and essentially lady-like
manners, and most winning deportment, it should be esteemed
a great privilege to obtain such favorable instruction.
EXCURSION TO TYBEE.
During the Spring and Summer months it is quite invigora
ting to the system to inhale the sea breeze of an afternoon,
and the cheapness of this luxury places it within the reach of
all classes. We would make the suggestion however that no
liquor should be sold on board. In almost every instance
within our recollection that we have been on an excursion
some unpleasant occurrence has taken place from the influence
of ardent spirits. The suggestion is not made from prejudice,
but for the welfare and happiness of those who partake of
this means of enjoyment.
DEATH OF MAJOR GEN. WORTH.
The N. O. Picayune of the 16th inst. announces the death
by Cholera of Major Gen. Worth, at San Antonio, Texas, on
the 7th May, after a few hours illness.
DEATH OF DAN MARBLE.
A telegraphic despatch, received at Boston by W. Warren,
Esq. of the Boston Museum, announces his death by Cholera
at Louisville on the 15th ult.
CHOLERA IN THE WEST.
In Cincinnati, St. Louis and other places west, the Cholera
is on the increase.
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
A despatch in the Charleston Mercury, dated New York
the 18th inst., says—“A most melancholy event occurred on
the Hudson river last night opposite Newburg. The steam
boat Noah Brown ran into the steamer Empire, and the latter
immediately sunk to her boiler deck. There were upwards
of three hundred passengers on board, a great many of whom
were saved by the steamer Van Winkle, which came prompt
ly to their rescue, but the darkness and confusion rendered it
impossible to ascertain how many were lost. The dead
bodies of three ladies had been taken ashore at Newburg.—
The most instense anxiety prevails to hear the particulars of
this dreadful catastrophe, as many of the passengers had rel
atives and friends in this city.
“We have another account which states that the Empire
was sunk by a schooner, and that all the passengers but three
were saved. We hope that this may prove the correct one.”
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WATERTOWN
A telegraphic despatch from New York to the Baltimore
Clipper says —“ Intelligence has reached here that a tremen
dous conflagration took place at Watertown, in this State, on
Sunday, by which that thriving manufacturing, town is nearly
reduced to ashes. The fire originated in a wood house, and
before the flames could be checked, all the principal business
houses and public buildings were consumed, including the
Post Office, (with its contents, consisting of the Southern and
Northern mails.) three Banks, the Surrogate’s office, two fine
Hotels, thirty stores, &c. So far it is ascertained that only
one life was lost.
“ The loss is estimated at from $250,000 to $300,000, on
which there is an insurance of $121,000. A large number
of persons are thrown out of employment by this terrible
calamity.
EF* Oothcaloga Division, No. 161, Sons of Temperance,
will have a public turnout on the first Saturday of June next,
at the Protestant Methodist Camp Ground, near Oothcaloga
Depot, Floyd County, where addresses will be delivered.
Officers and Brethren of other Divisions of the- Order are
invited to attend.
THE POWER OF NUMBERS.
Why, Bob—why could’nt you rest last night—eh! Wby
the fact is, Bill, I don’t know why, if it wan’t that yesterday
the landlord had anew number painted over my chamber door
KF 3 The Planking of West Broad and Bay-streets is beta,
rapidly laid down.
EF 3 A man named A. S. Smith has been arrested in
mond, Va., on the charge of abducting negroes, he had them
boxed up and addressed to P. Williams, Butterwood-stret
Philadelphia. The box was sent to Adams & Co’s Expr®*,
office as Merchandise, where the cheat was detected.
DROWNED.
James Cruiksliank, a native of Scotland who arrived at thia
port in the British ship Abigail, was found drowned in Savannah
River.
Also, a negro man named Joe, property of Mrs. J. Fountain.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT.
The Grand Jury, for the first week, May Term, 1849. for
the County of Chatham, make the following Recommendation*
and Presentments:
We present as a serious evil, and a nuisance, the collection
and assemblage of Negroes in the City of Savannah, and par
ticularly such as have recently been permitted in this com
munity on occasions of the sailing of the barque Huma, with
emigrants destined for the Colony of Liberia, or any African
Colony. We believe such exhibitions are and crated neither by
prudence orpolicy, and aught to be restrained by authority of
Law; when it is considered that our domestic institutions ar®
assailed both at home and abroad, by the intemperate zeal of
misguided fanatics, and evil designing persons, we cannot be
too careful in guarding against those secret means and temp
tations which those occasions afford to tamper with our slaves,
and seduce them from the allegiance and service of their
owners. We are of opinion that the well being of this com
munity and the security of our domestic institutions, imperil,
tively demand that these assemblages and the proceeding*
they give rise to, should not be encouraged, and that when
embarkations take place they should be effected in an orderly,
peaceable and legal manner, without any ostentations of sym.
pathy or those incentives which may lead to extraordinary ex
citement, —otherwise a spirit of disaffection and insubordin*.
tiou will inevitably arise, detrimental to the interest of the
owner, and injurious to the slaves themselves. The Grand
Jury therefore urgently recommend that City Council adopt
such regulations as are calculated to prevent such assem
blages in future, and if necessary, to pass an Ordinance without
delay prohibiting all free persons of color from taking passage
in any vessel from this port destined for Liberia or any African
Colony.
The Grand Jury, through a Committee of their Body, have
examined the condition and management of the County Jail,
and although they find no neglect of duty on the part of the
Jailor, who has discharged his trust with ability and fidelity,
they view with deep concern the present condition of til*
Jail, arising chiefly from its imperfect construction, being al
together inadequate to the original design. In confirmation of
their views on this subject, they would refer to a report con
tained in the Presentment of the Grand Jury, May Term,
1848. “The Cells,” say they, “ are only 5 feet by 10, with
a small apperture for ventillution. They are unfit for the oc
cupation of human beings.” The law, in its tenderness, pre
sumes all persons innocent of crime until convicted, but in
these living graves, there appears to be no discrimination be
tween the accused and the guilty. Such unmitigated rigor,
not to use a harsher term, might have been tolerated in the
dark ages, but that a grievance so great should exist unrebuked
at the present time, when an advanced state of civilization has
spread its softening and ameliorating influence over Society,
we cannot suppress the expression of our surprise and repro
bation. The Criminal under the grave charge of murder, and
the man committed for some slight misdemeanor, have, in the
absence of security—alike become the inmatess of the “Cells.”
The Grand Jury have ascertained that although means hare
been adopted, whereby a sufficient supply of water has been
procured necessary for the cleanliness of the Jail and the
health and comfort of its iumates, the evil arising from the
construction of the Sewers, the vitiated state of the atmos
phere where ventillation is almost impossible, and the confine
ment of prisoners within damp, narrow* and contracted Cell#*
to a fearful extent. They believe the present con
dition of the Jail deserves prompt and immediate attention and
ought no longer to be tolerated in an enlightened and civilized
community alive to the dictates of Justice and the feelings of
humanity.
The Grand Jury request that the above Presentment and
recommendations bo published iu the public gazettes of the
city. R. WAYNE, Foreman.
Edward A. Soullard, Gilbert A. Wilkins, Benjamin W*
Lloyd, W. Mac Kay, Wilson Oden, E. E. Tebeau, J. H.
Ladd, James Ker, Jesse Mount, J. Washburn, J. McFarland*
Chas. Henry Lacoste, Alexander Aik in, William E. Long,
Henry Lathrop, Samuel S. Ballow, A. K. Moore, W. H*
Miller, Thomas J. Bulloch.
True extract from the Minutes.
may 23 JNO. E. DAVIS, s. c. c. c.
PHCENIX FIRE ENGINE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON.
At a meeting of the Phoenix Fire Engine Company, of
Charleston, held at their Hall on the evening of the 18th inst.
the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the thanks of the Phoenix Fire Engine
Company are due. and are hereby tendered to the Officers.
Members of the Oglethorpe Fire company of Savannah, Geo.,
for their Official and individual attentions to us during our
visit, to their City.
Resolved , That in giving expression to the sentiment con
tained in the above resolution, the Phoenix Company disclaim
all formality, and beg them to receive it as the offering
hearts justly sensible of the obligations imposed by their ge n *
erous, noble and devoted hospitality.
Resolved , That the thanks of the Company are due to th®
Washington Fire Com pan}’ of Savannah, Ga., for their ready
co-operation, and harmonious union with their Brother I i*®’
men in giving us a welcome.
Resolved , That the courtesies extended by the Savannah
Fire Compauy towards the Phoenix Fire Engine Company 01
Charleston, on the occasion of their late visit, added much
the social hilarity and good feeling which characterised
meeting of Brother Firemen of the two Siiter Citi®* of t
South.
